SUOC57, Elegant Autumn

This week  at SUO Challenges we're celebrating Autumn (or Spring, if you live in the southern hemisphere).  It is finally beginning to feel like it here in Southern California, with the daytime temperatures moderating from the awful heat of a few weeks ago, and the nights becoming crisp and cool.  I've even detected a hint of smoke in the evening air, which means someone has been using their fireplace (lucky dog, wish I had one)!

My project for the challenge this time is an Autumn Wreath. I've seen some fabulous leaves made with the Autumn Accents Bigz die (Shana Gaff's card from a couple weeks ago, for one), and I just had to try them. The wreath was surprisingly easy to make, though it took a little time to tuck the burlap through the wire frame. There is also a LOT of sponging involved, but that part went quickly, and it was fun to watch the cardstock leaves turning into realistic leaves!

My thoughts and prayers are with the people who have been dealt a blow by Sandy. Our own SUO Challenges fearless leader, Robin Messenheimer, happened to be visiting family in North Carolina when it hit.

Stamps: Daydream Medallions, Papillon Potpourri
Cardstock: Champagne Glimmer Paper, More Mustard, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: StazOn Jet Black, More Mustard, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Old Olive
Accessories: Big Shot, Autumn Accents die, Floral Frames Framelits, Square Lattice embossing folder, Elegant Butterfly punch, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Cherry Cobbler Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, Stampin' Sponges, (non-SU items: hot glue gun, wire wreath frame, wheat, and burlap)

Spooktacular Savings!

I am so excited - Stampin' Up is having a one-day sale on almost all stamp sets! Every single set is 15% off, today ONLY. This is the first time they have ever done this!

Stamps (sets and single stamps) include:

• Almost ALL stamps in the current holiday and annual catalogs
  
• Personalized name stamps
• Cookie press stamps (yippeee!)
• Single Stamp Promotion*, including 3 never before seen stamps in Assortment 2! (Pssst - I love the Bold Snowflake that coordinates with the Blossom Punch!)

Stamps NOT included in the sale:

• Hostess sets
• Bundled stamp sets (e.g. stamps with Framelits bundles)
  
• Digital stamp brush sets

Look through the catalog and let me know which sets you need for Holiday projects, or any sets that have been on your wish list. We're trying to set a new sales record for a single day, and I'm trying to win some prizes so NOW is the time to order! Call or email me before 10:00 PM (Pacific).

* View Single Stamps here (links take you to .pdf)

• Single Stamps: Assortment 1 *New!
• Single Stamps: Assortment 2 *New!
• Single Stamps: Word Play
• Single Stamps: Perfectly Penned
• Single Stamps: Seasonal Sayings

SUOC56, Lions & Tigers & Bears (or ANY Animal)

Holy moly, I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since my last post! I've been having so much fun having my mom visit (and teaching her to stamp, too, but more on that later), that time just got away from me. In fact, I ALMOST FORGOT this week's challenge at SUO Challenges. EEK!

Fortunately for me, I didn't have to stretch my poor tired crafty brain to pull this card together. It's super easy to do, and the strip of Champagne Glimmer on the Brushed Gold really dresses it up a lot. Wouldn't this be a perfect masculine card?

The lion was colored with a blender pen, deliberately just scribbling the color in, to go for a kind of rough watercolor look. It's hard to tell from the photo, but he's surrounded by golden light, sponged on with a Stampin' Sponge. It really looks better IRL!

When the card was finished, the greeting made me giggle, though. I had the thought that the recipient might think the lion was licking his lips and "thinking of them" in a hungry kind of way.....not my intention at all!!!

So, your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to make a fahbbulus project with some kind of animal on it, in it, whatever.......just be sure you use only Stampin' Up! stuff. Then upload it on the SUO Challenge web site, so we can oooh and aaah and leave some love for ya!

Oh, and I have some news to share soon (she said, dancing around). It probably won't impress you, but I was gobsmacked!

Stamps: Zoo Review, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Brushed Gold, Champagne Glimmer
Ink: StazOn Black, More Mustard, Daffodil Delight, and Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pads, Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing Folder, Ticket Duo Builder Punch, Stampin' Sponges, Blender Pens